Electrical-switch mounting.



J. A. BENNAN.

[ELECTRICAL swncn MOUNT ING. APPLICATION FILED NOV 9, 1914- Patented Jan. 11,1916.

,of Illinois, useful Improvements in Electrical-Switch JOHN BENNAN, OF CHICAGO; ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL-SWITCH MOUNTING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

Application filed November 9, 1914. Serial No. 870,954.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Join: A. BENNAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of-Chicago, in the county of Cook and State have invented certain new and and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel electric switch and mounting therefor, which mounting is adapted to constitute a unitary part of astructure in connection with which the switch ,is to be used, or which may constitute an independent switch adapted for gen- Mountings eral use.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide, what may be termed, an indestruetible switch which is capable of severe usage without liability of breakage of the switch supporting base or switch elements and consequent grounding of the switch terminals.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple device of this character in which the parts are held in reliable fixed relation to each other, and which may be made and installed at small cost.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

I have herein shown my invention as applied to a sheet metal battery box adapted, among other things, to contain one or more battery cells to constitute part of an ignition system for a gas engine, and have also indicated the manner in whichthe switch may be made an independent device for general use.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery box provided with a switch embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary face view of the switch proper. Fig. '3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4:4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a partial outer face view of the switch base. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a binding post constituting an element of the switch. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of a modification of the switch. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a blank of a form to constitute one of the switch terminal clips.

- rounding flange or wall In F igs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings, my improved switch is shown as mounted on and constituting a unitary part of a battery box 9 which may be made of any suitable dimensi'on and shape. Said box is made of sheet metal, and when the switch is ap plied as a unitary part of the box the base 10 of the switch is made an integral part of the box, it being struck or stamped out wardly from one of the walls thereof by a suitable swaging die. Said base is hollow and comprises an outer wall 11 and a sur- The swltch shown in Figs. 1', 2 and 3 is a two-throw switch, but it is obvious that my improvements are equally well adapted to a single-throw switch, or to other types of switches. Said switch embodies, as more clearly shown in F igs.-1 and 3, a switch blade 16 that is pivoted of the base, ed, when embodied in a double-throw switch, one at each side of the pivot 18 of the blade 16. As shown,each of the clips 17 ismade of a single piece of metal, the blank 19 of which is shown in Fig. 8. Said blank comprises twin portions which are adapted to be folded one upon the other about the neck portion 20 as a hinge to provide separated lips 21, 21, between which the switch blade 16 is adapted to be engaged. Each clip is attachedto the base 10 by means of a bolt 22, best shown in Fig. 6. Said bolts 22 may also constitute binding posts or terminals for connection with the circuit wires. Each bolt comprises a head 23, a squared or other irregularly shaped shank 24 and a screwthreaded portion 25, the latter adapted to receive a nut 26.

As shown in said Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the bolts or binding posts 22 are arranged for, what is termed a back connection, or with the screw-threaded ends and nuts inside the base and the head 23 ofthe bolt outside of and overlying the exterior faces of the terminal clips 17. Said bolts extend through an insulating sheet 26' made of any suitable to the outer wall 11 i and terminal clips 17, 17 mountstifl fibrous material that lies against the inner side of the flat wall 11 of the base, through openings 27 in said wall 11, through insulating members 28 between said wall and the terminal clips and through openings 29 of the members of the clip. The clips are thus clamped upon the base by means 'of'ithe clamping nuts 26 screw-threaded to the inner ends of the bolts, and the circuit openings of the sheet 26 so as to thereby' prevent rotation of the binding posts bolts.

The insulating members 28 which he between the base and the clips 17 and the said clips are also provided with squared openings to receive the squared portion of the shanks of the binding post bolts, whereby said parts are held fixedlyin place relatively to the base. That is to say, the insulating member 26, by reason of its interfitting engagement with the base, holdsthe binding post bolts from rotation and the interlockin'g engagement of the bolts with the insu-- lating members 28 and clips 17 hold the latter from .turning on said bolts. The openings 27 in'the wall 11 of the base is made substantially larger than the portion of the binding postbolts which extend therethrough, so as to thereby suitably insulate the bolts from the metal of the base.

The switch blade is pivoted to the base through the medium of the bolt 18 which constitutes a combined pivot bolt andbinding post. It extends inwardly through said switch blade, the wall 11 of the base and the insulating member 26, and is held in place by a nut 36. screw-threaded to the bolt l8.v

An insulating washer 37 is interposed between the pivoted end of the switch blade and the base, and preferably other washers are arranged on the bolt 18 at the sides of the switch blade so as to thereby provide a suitable pivotal engagement of the switch blade with said bolt.

The construction shown in Fig. 7 is adapted as an individual switch to be attached to a suitable support for various uses. In this-construction the base 40 of the switch comprises a flat outer wall 41 and a surrounding flange wall 42, preferably pro vided with a foot flange 43 to bear against the part to which the switch body is attached to afford a suitably wide bearing therefor. The "circuit connections will preferably be front connections so that the binding post bolts are arranged with their heads inside the, wall Hand with their screw-threaded ends extending outwardly to engage the clamping nuts by-which the 'rcuit wires may be attached to the bolt. 11 other respects, the construction of the switch is essentially the same as that just described, and like parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

The construction described provides a very strong, durable and non-breakable body which carries the elements of the switch, and also provides a reliable insulation between said switch elements. Moreover, said switch elements are maintained in fixed relation to each other and to the base by a very simple construction.

In the adaptation of the switch structure as a unitary part of a box'to contain a set of batteries, a further advantage is found in that no additional metal is required to furnish the switch base, and also that-the work of assembling the switch on the battery box, and separately applied attaching means, as bolts or screws, is thereby rendered unnecessary. I

Heretofore, it has been a common practice in manufacturing switches of the general characte described to make the base: of porcelain, rubber compound or the like. Such material is relatively fragile and when subjected to external bruises is liable to breakage, thus necessitating the replacement thereof and often occasioning a short circuit between the switch elements carried by the base. A rubber or like compound is further objectionable by reason of its comparatively low fusing point, which often leads to a heat break down when used in high temperatures.

The construction herein described is of such natureas may be subjected to severe treat ment in the way of external bruises, concussions or the like without liability of the parts being broken down, or short circuited between the switch terminals, and is capable of use in heated locations, as in and about a gas engine, without danger of overheating.

A further advantage of the construction described is the economy by which it may be produced, it being obvious that the several sheet metal parts and insulating members of the device may be rapidly and cheaply stamped or out from-their proper. materials and readily assembled. Another advantage of the construction described is that the binding posts serve to reliably connect the elements of the switch and the insulating elements to the base so that thereby the parts are held in fixed relation to each other.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical switch mounting comprising a sheet metal base formed with a noncircular recess on the interior thereof, a sheet of insulating material fitted in said non-circular recess, a second sheet of insulating material in contact with the exterior of said base, openings through said base, non-circular openings through said insulating sheets of less size than the openings through said base, combined clamping bolts and binding posts extending through said openings and shaped to fit the non-circular niezeeo openings in said insulating sheets, electrical contact members interlocked with said binding posts exterior of said base, and means for connecting and disconnecting said electrical contact members.

2. In combination a sheet metal casing, a plate forming a closure for one side of said casing and having an integral extension struck outwardly therefrom and forming a switch base having a non-circular recess on the interior thereof, a plurality of openings through said switch base, a sheet of insulating material fitted to the interior of said switch base and having openings therein registering with the openings in said base and smaller than said openings, combined clamping bolts and binding posts interlocked with the openings in said insulating sheet and extending through the openings in said base and having an air space between .nect and disconnect said electrical contact them and the walls of said openings, an

electrical contact member secured to one of said binding posts and insulated from said base, and an electrical switch pivoted to another of said binding posts insulated from said base and adapted to be swung into and out of-contact with said electrical .contact member.

3. An electrical switch comprising a flanged sheet metal base, an insulating sheet member applied to the inner side of the base and held in fixed relation thereto by engagement with the base flange, an insulating member between said clip and base, registering openings extending through said insulated members and base, the openings in said base being larger than the openings in said insulating members, binding posts-having nonrrota-tive interlocking connection with the openings in said insulating members and passing through the openings in said base, electrical contact members se cured to said binding posts exterior to said base, and an electrical switch secured to one members. l

l. In. a device of the: character described, a box adapted to contain batteries 0r-other electrical apparatus and having asheet metal closure forone side thereof, a projection struck outwardly fronisaid closure and forming a hollowbase of non-circular shape,

a sheet of insulating material placed within said base and fitted to the interior thereof, openings through said base, non-circular openings through said insulating sheet of less size than the openings through. said base,

binding posts passing through said noncircular openings and fitting closely therein;-

electrical contact members secured to said. base by said. binding posts exterior to said base, and a pivoted switch adapted to make and break electrical connection between said contact? members.

5. In combination, a container having sheet metal side walls and a bottom connected together to form a box for holding electric batteries, a portion of one of said side walls being struck outwardly to form a 1101- low switch base of non-circular formation, a sheet of insulating material fitted to the interior of said switch base, and a plurality of electrical contact members non-rotatably interlocked with said insulating sheet and passing through openings in said base Without contacting therewith, whereby said electrical contact members are held from movement by said insulating material relative to one another and relative to said material. In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I atiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses, this EZSrd-day of October, A. 1914. I g

" J OHN A. BENNAN.

' l Vitnesses:

W. L. HALL,

G. E. Downs.

Gopics at this liatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, 13. C. 

